Portable filing case



Oct. 30, 1951 J. E. DIEFENDORF, JR

PORTABLE FILING CASE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 23, 1946 v INVENTUR flaymdarfl [21 a w'r q 195:1 J. E. YDIEFENDORF, JR

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Z HTTORNEYS' l Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE FILING "CASE John E. Diefendorf, Jr., West Point, N. Y.

Application May 23, 1946; Serial No. 671,853

1 The invention relates to a combined shipping container and stand fora filing case.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in part hereinafter and in part will I be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown anddescribed.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a filing case equipped with structure embodying the invention, mounted in the shipping position; s

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said case and structure being set into the standing position;

Fig. 3 is a detail, in perspective, of one of the horizontal braces;

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, of one of the cross braces;

Fig. 5 is a partially expanded view, in perspective, showing the structure in standing. position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail, in section, on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a detail, in perspective, of the thread block. shown in Fig.6.

Army ofiicers, civil engineers, and other professional men who travel frequently and spend much of their time in the field, require portable filing, cases or cabinets for their papers. Army ofiicers, for example, need. a compact, permanent file of regulations, manuals, notes and other papers, which can be readily and safely shipped from place to place yet be ready for immediate use anywhere and under any conditions.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a container or housing forprotecting a standard type filing case or cabinet during shipment and handling en route, which will be sufficiently rugged to undergo field conditions, simple and cheap as to material and construction, and attractive in appearance. Said container, in accordance with the invention, is designed for the dual purpose of serving'as a stand or support for the filing cabinet in use, the parts of the container being movable'with respect tothe cabinet so that it may be erected and mounted to rest at the most convenient level and position for use wherever-wanted.

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-1.)

In achieving this major object, said protective container is preferably semi-permanently attached to the filing caseand is so constructed and arranged that it can be very readily moved from the shipping positiontothe standing posi tion and vice versa. Moreover, everypart which is used in forming the protective container is designed to be used and to perform a useful function in both positions of use-thatis, the shipping position and the standing position.

Referring now in detail to that preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, it is shown applied to a'conventional sing1edrawer steel filing-cabinet or case having rectangular sides I, top 2, bottom 3 and rear end 4; The front end 5 constitutes the face or closure for the conventional sliding drawer and is provided with a projecting handle 6. A similar handle; -1 may be fixed-:to the rear end 4 to aid in lifting the cabinet; If preferred the handled, or bothof them, maybe of thepivoted or'drop type soas normally to lie against the ends of the case and not extend as shown.

The shipping container is preferably fixed'to the bottom of the cabinet in all positions ofuse so thatcabinet .and container are-always essentially a unit. For that purpose the-container includes a rectangul-arframe having the two flat boards l0 and H, the'edge and. ends ofwhich lie flush. with those of the bottom of the case. Al-

though shown separated for clearness of illustra tion in Fig. 5, the boards l0 and H are normally fixed to the bottom of the case; as by bolts passing through the six openings 1 2 in the frame-and through correspondingopenings (not shown) in the bottom'3 of the-case. The bottom frame of the container is completed by three transverse members comprising the boards I3, 14 and; I5 fixed. to the bottom of the boards 10 and I I.

The ends of the case are protected by rectangular open end frames hinged to turn about the ends of the bottom frame members l0 and H. The front end frame comprises the front vertical boards 16 and. H which bear against the front end v5 of the'case, and. the horizontal members l8 and 19, which arefixed' to the outer faces of the vertical members I6 and I1. Saidfront end frame is hinged to pivot freelyabout the ends ofthe bottom frame members by means of horizontal hinges 20 and 20. The rear end frame is formed in identical manner, having vertical members 22- and 23, horizontal members 24 and 25 and hinges 2|. and 21'. In the shipping position, as shown in Fig. 1,. said front and rear end frames are turned to lie against the front-land nect with the horizontal end cross member 2].

of the front top frame. Longitudinal members 28 and 29 and central cross member 30 make up the remainder of said frame. Itwillbe noted that the end frame members l5 and H are spaced from the meeting edges o'fmembers l9 and 21 so that in the shipping position (Fig.1)

4 55 is provided to connect the end frame members l9 and 25, being fixed in place by wing bolts 56 and 51.

For additional rigidity I preferably provide diagonal bracing above the horizontal braces 50 and 55. As shown, the diagonal members 60 and 6| are notched at 62 to intersect and form a separable X-shaped bracing between the upper and lower horizontal braces 55 and 50. No fixtures are required for attachin said diagonal braces in place as the upper" ends thereof are ,firmly wedged between the horizontal brace and the end frame members l9 and 25. A similar set'of diagonal braces 65 and 66 are provided to the ends of said members l6 and Il' abut against I the bottom faces of the members 28 and 29 respectively. 7 Y The rear top frame is similarly formed of longitudinal members 3| and 32, rear end top member 33 and center top member 34. Member 33 is horizontally hinged 'to member 25 :by hinge 35 and another, not shown. In the shipping position said two top frames are designed to lie flat on the top 2 of the case and to join for locking. For this purpose about one-half of the end portion of the upper surface of the members 3| and 32 is cut away to form a tongue All and the upper end portions of members 28 and 29 are similarly tongued at 4| to form a lap joint. The edges of the pieces 30 and 3d meet and it will be noted that, for greater rigidity, the meeting edges of the tongues of the lap joint are staggered with respect to those of the cross members 3B and 34. A snap lock 45, preferably mounted to be flush with the upper faces of pieces 30 and 34, is provided to complete the closure of the container at the top of the case.

The parts of the container so far described are adapted, when unlocked and separated or unfolded, to form legs to support the'case in the standing position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. After unlocking the lock 45, the front top and end frames are turned to the right and the rear top end frames to the left while the case is simultaneously raised by the handles 5 and I.

When the two sets of frames reach the vertical they are adapted to act as legs to support the case as shown in Fig. 5. The adjoining edges of the members l9 and 21 in the front frames and those of the corresponding members 25 and 33 in the rear frames are positioned to bear against each other in the vertical position and thus provide a rigid joint against outward buckling. In order to hold the leg frames temporarily vertical and against buckling in the opposite way (in the sense shown in Fig. 2) swivel latches 48 are provided on the inner faces of members 21 and 33. By turning these latches into the vertical position as shown in Fig. 5, the leg frames can temporarily be prevented from buckling.

Means are provided for imparting strength and rigidity to the structure in the standin position so that the case will be supported in a solid and stable manner in its position of use. For this, a horizontal brace member 50 is provided to lie on top of the upper edges of the frame members 30 and 34. Wing bolts 5| and 52 are provided for fastening the ends of said brace to said frame members 30 and 34, suitable sockets being provided in the edges of said members to receive the bolts. A similar horizontal brace form an X bracing between the bottom frame members 13 and I5 and the horizontal brace 55.

In assembling the structure in the standing position, the bottom horizontal brace is first placed, then the lower X bracing, then the upper horizontal brace and then the upper X which readily slides into place from the side. So assembled the structure is ready for use and it will be found that a very stable and practical stand is provided for the case as long as it is desired to be used. The file drawer can be moved in and out freely and the height thereof is most convenient.

When it is desired to restore the case to its shipping position, the upper X bracing is first withdrawn and the two members 55 and 66 are separated. Then remove the upper horizontal brace 55, then the X-bracing 60, BI and then the lower horizontal 50. Then grasping the case handles 6 and 1, the case can be lowered to the floor by gently kicking out one of the leg frames at the bottom. When the case is on the floor, the four X-brace members 60, BI, and 56 are laid on the case top 2. Then the container end and top frames are folded over the case and the lock 5 is snapped shut. As so positioned the X-brace members all lie within the top frame members and flush with members 28, 29, 3| and 32 thereof. Thus they form a coverage and additional protection for the case top in the shipping position.

The two horizontal braces 50 and 55 are also utilized in the shipping position, being used as side guards for the case. Thus the brace 50 is laid along the center line of side i of the case and the wing bolts 5| and 52 are set into the outer vertical edges of frame members l5 and 22 respectively. For this purpose said members are preferably reinforced by T-shaped brackets having shanks 10 set into the frame members l5 and 22, the heads H of said brackets being flush with the outer faces of said members, and fixed therein by countersunk screws. A threaded opening 12 is formed in the shank 10 to receive the threaded shank of the wing bolt 5|, a suitable socket 13 being formed in the frame member IE to receive the bolt.

In order that the heads of the wing bolts will lie flush With the outer surface of the brace 50, the ends of said brace are preferably cutaway to form U-shaped spaces 11 and 18. Reinforcing metal plates 15 and 16 are countersunk into the adjacent faces of the brace so that they lie flush with said face. The portions of the plates within the U-shaped spaces are provided with two openings 19 and 80 at their ends, this permitting location of the wing bolts both with re spect to the sockets 13 for the shipping position and with respect to the sockets in the transverse frame members 30 and 34 for the standing position. It will be clear that the construction ,of

horizontal brace 55 is the sameand that it will be used in the shipping position to guard the opposite side of the case.

It will be understood from the foregoing that each and every part of the shipping container is utilized and performs a useful function in both positions of use of the container. This is true not only of the frame members themselves, but of the brace members and even of the wing bolts. It will also be clear that the construction is a very simple one lending itself to the utilization of relatively inexpensive materials yet providing an attractive and rugged construction in all positions of use.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described, but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. Combined stand and shipping container for a filing case including in combination a filing case having rectangular surfaces, a rectangular frame attached to the bottom of said case, rectangular frames hingedly connected to the ends of the bottom frame, similar top frames hingedly connected to the opposite ends of said end frames, said end and top frames being foldable to cover the ends and top respectively of said case and secured together to form a shipping crate for the case and unfoldable to underlie the case to form upright supporting legs therefor wherein said legs comprise an end frame and a top frame in substantially co-planar prolongation.

2. Combined stand and shipping container for a filing case including in combination a filing case having rectangular surfaces, a rectangular frame attached to the bottom of said case, rectangular frames hingedly connected to the ends of the bottom frame, similar top frames hingedly connected to the opposite ends of said end frames, said end and top frames being foldable to cover the ends and top respectively of said case and secured together to form a shipping crate for the case and unfoldable to underlie the case to form supporting legs therefor, detachable bracing members connecting the top frames and the last named rectangular frames when in unfolded supporting leg position, said detachable bracing members being adapted to become part of the shipping crate.

3. Combined stand and shipping container for a filing case including in combination, a rectangular filing case having an extensible drawer, and a framework comprising a base frame of substantially the same dimensions of the bottom of said filing case and attached thereto, top frames comprising two like portions, rectangular end frames, said top frames and said end frames hingedly connected to one another and said end frames hingedly connected to opposite ends of said base frame at their meeting edges thereof, said top and end frames being capable of pivoting to provide leg portions for said filing case whereby said top and end frames are in vertical alignment, and said top and end frames being foldable to cover the top and end portions of said filing case when said filing case is in con dition for shipment.

JOHN E. DIEFENDORF, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 259,981 Dow June 20, 1882 632,644 Copeland Sept. 5, 1899 821,684 Wetzel May 29, 1906 1,382,393 Smith June 21, 1921 2,244,211 Nelson June 3, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 712,973 France Aug. 3, 1931 

